smith



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. T. SMITH. -V CIRCUIT GLOSBR.

No. 325,124. Patented Aug. 25, 1835.

INVENTOR N E f mil]:

ATTORNEYS WITNESSES N, PZTERS. Pholu-Lilhegnphcr. Wnshinglofl. u, c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A.- T. SMITH.

GIRGUIT CLOSER.

No. 325,124. Patentd Aug. 25, 1885.

WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLIH THEODORE SMITH, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

CIRCUIT- CLOSER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,124, dated August 25, 1885.

Application filed August 29, 1884. (No model.) I

To aZZ whom; it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADOLPH THEODORE SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Circuit-Closers for Burglar-Alarms and other Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists in the combination, with an electro-magnet and with its armature, of a hopper, a gate adapted to close the discharge'opening of the hopper and controlled by the armature of the electro-magnet, and a balanced tray, which when depressed closes a circuit from a secondary battery, so that when a ball or other weight is placed into the hopper and the armature of the electro-magnet is actuated so as to allow the gate of the hopper to open, the weight drops down upon the tray, and the circuit from the secondary battery is closed and retained in a closed condition as long as the weight remains upon the tray. Several trays are used, extending in opposite directions.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section. I Fig. 2 is an end view. Fig. 3 is a plan or top view. Fig. 4 is an inverted plan.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, the letter A designates an electro-magnet, which is in the circuit of a bat tery, B, one end of its helix being connected to one pole of said battery, while its other end connects to a circuitcloser, G, which is connected to the other pole of the battery. In the example shown in the drawings the circuitcloser O is open, and when it is olosedfor i11- stance, by opening a door or window in a building, or by a clock-movement, or any other meansthe electro-niagnet is vitalized. The armature D of the eleetro-magnet swings between center points, a a, and it is so balanced that in its normal condition its inner end drops down to the position shown in Fig. 2. From the bottom surface of the armature projects a spur, b, which, when the armature is in its normal condition, forms a stop to retain the gate E of the hopper F in its closed position. This gate swings on a pivot, c, and it is subjected to the action of a spring, (I, which has a tendency to retain the same in its open position. When the tail end of the gate is forced back to the position shown in Fig. 3, in which position it is retained by the spur b of the armature D, it closes the discharge-opening of the hopper sufficiently to retain therein a ball, G, Fig. 1, and if the electro-magnet A is vitalized so as to attract the armature, the gate E is released by the spur Z2, and the ball G drops down upon a tray, H. In the example illustrated by the drawings four trays, II II H H", are shown; but I do not wish to limit myself to a definite number. Each of these trays swings in center-points, e e, and it is balanced by counter-weights f, so that its normal position is in a horizontal plane. From the bottom part of each tray projects an arm, 9, and if the tray is depressed this arm is brought in metallic contact with a binding screw, 72, so as to close a circuit from the secondary battery B. By referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the trays H H extend from the upright I and the trays H II in the opposite direction from the upright J, so that when the ball G has rolled down over the tray H it drops upon the tray H, near its inner end, and so on, and after the ball has rolled down over all the trays it drops into a cup, K, which is situated beneath the base L, and retained in its closed position by a spring, 2', Fig. 4. By means of the handle M the cup can be swung out, so that the ball contained therein can be removed. The uprights I J are of metal, and they connect by wires 10 and 11 with one pole of the battery B, the other pole of which is grounded. The binding-screws h h m h connect by wires 12 13 14 15 with an electric bell or with an automatic electric gas-burner, which also connects with the ground, so that whenever one of the trays H. H H II is depressed a circuit is closed through the bell or through the electric gasburner, and the bell is sounded or the gas is lighted. By placing the four trays H II H H in such a position in relation to each other that they are successively depressed by the ball G, a series of circuits are closed whenever the electro-magnet A is vitalized, and two or more bells can be sounded, or two or more gas-flames can be ignited.

It is obvious that the electro-magnet A can be operated on a closed circuit instead of an open circuit, as shown, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

It must be also remarked that instead of the ball G shown in the drawings other weights may be nsed-sueh as shot, sand, water, or

"other fluidsand I do not wish to confine myand with its armature, of a hopper, a gate adapted to close the discharge-opening of the hopper and controlled by the armature of the electromagnet, and a series of balanced trays extending in opposite directions,each ofwhich, when depressed, closes a circuit from a secondary battery, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ADOLPII THEODORE Silll'lll.

Vitncsses:

W. HAUFF, E. F. KAsrENHUnER. 

